La Estrella del Guarco is a little town of 500 people, though I have yet to see these supposed 500 people. I think they´re counting everyone who lives within a five kilometer radius as there are only about ten houses in town. Along with said houses, there is the school with playground, a cute little blue church, a pulperia, a bookstore that I have yet to see, a soccer field, and a salon (having nothing to do with hair, this is a meeting place). The ¨streets¨are bumpy, dusty paths not much wider than one car. But there´s really only two of these that go through town, and only a couple trucks that frequent them. In fact, the closest paved road is a half hour drive away. I am 2,000 meters up, about 6,000 feet, in a sort of mountain valley. In the mornings, fog sits on the town, the haze added to by the smoke from the woodburning stoves that are fired up to make breakfast. Mornings are chilly and definitely require the fleece, but by afternoon, well most afternoons, the sun is shining and the hills that cradle La Estrella glimmer in the glare and the jacket is shed

. The sweatshirt is put on by 5 pm in time for a cafecita (I am now going on 3 or 4 cups of coffee a day.) and I snuggle up in my sleeping bag, bundled up in my comfy pants and long sleeve shirt at 9 or 9:30 - my bedtime now. This is La Estrella. Tranquillo. Beautiful. Remote.

On Monday I noticed that my classroom now has a floor! Yay! Only windowpanes, a door, and finished walls to go!On Tuesday I spoke at the PTA meeting in front of all the parents. In Spanish. My face was bright red the whole time and I had to field questions about my new discipline plan, but they all seemed to understand and like my little presentation. Then I sat for three more hours through the longest PTA meeting in history, not even trying to understand what they were saying by the end.On Wednesday we celebrated Valentines Day by making Valentines and learning related words. I have been receiving little cards, flowers, and candies ever since. One student gave me three Valentines!!!On Thursday the horses got out. I have no idea whose they were or where they came from, but there were about ten horses wandering around town all day. On Friday I lay out in the sun and read. My family thought I was really weird and they all came out to see what silly Teacher was doing. Why would anybody want to lay out in the sun, and on the ground no less!

This is La Estrella. Half the time I´m in awe of its beauty and the other half I´m wondering what the hell I´m doing here. But at the end of the day, I think I´m pretty happy to be here. Pura Vida!